Piano with transposing-keyboard.



EEZEZMEESMMEE' INVENT flnionin Mauro Mauro,

Bencdeti Mauro.

w A TTOR/VEY STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANTONINO MAURO, FILIPPO MAURO, AND BENEDETTO MAURO, OF NEW YORK, N.

PIAll'O WITH TRANSPOSING-KEYBOARD.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 2, 1913.

Application filed February 20, 1912. Serial No. 678,971.

To all whom it may concern: I

' Be it known that we, ANTONINO MAURO, FILIPPO MAUB'O, and Bnnnnnrro MAURo, subjects of the King of Italy, residing in the borough of Manhattan, in the city, county, andState of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pianos With Transposing-Keyboards, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forminga part of this specification. I

Our invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in movable keyboards for pianos and organs, and its primary object is to provide a transposing keyboard which can be used in connection with pianos in which the hammers are not arranged at a uniform distance. A further object is to provide a transposing keyboard for pianos and organs,

capable of being applied to existinginstruments having the hammers unevenly distributed, requiring only a few slight changes which can be readily made without the necessity of any special'skill.

A still further object is'to provide a trans posing keyboard for pianos and organs sim-- ple and inexpensive in its construction and application, and in which especial attention has been givento the ease and convenience in operation.

' The object of devices of this class is to the music iswritten.

enable the operator to produce music in a higher or in a lower key than that in which Such transpositions of key are very often required in connection with accompaniment to singing, and to obtain the same with the usual keyboard, either requires a special ability on the part of the player, or else requires costly and long work of rewriting the music in the key desired. Transpos' v keyboards to facilitate this work hav e heen heretofore made, but to our knowledge, none of these have been commercialiy successful on account especially of the many 0 erations which they require in order to e ect an adjustment of the keyboard. Moreover, such-keyboards as have been made were only capable of application to pianos having the hammers evenly disl tributed, or in other words, to pianos having vertical strin s; while the majority of pianos are ma e with the so-called diagonal strings and built with three separate sections of piano actions separated by empty spaces, which are usually utilized for-the mounting of brackets, sustaining the action rail. In addition to this, it may be remarked'that the adjustable keyboards which to our knowledge, have been heretofore made, either require a special form of construction of piano, or else require considerable changes in the same, entailing expense and necessitating the sending of the piano to the factory forbeing put in order. We have sought to remedy all these inconveniences by producing a keyboard such as from its operating position and ready to be transposed; Fig. 4 is a front view of the same, transposed three keys to the right and clamped in position; Fig. 5 is a sectional side View in elevation of the keyboard as represented in Fig. '2; Fig. 6 is a sectional side view in elevation of the keyboard in its released position as represented in Fig.

3 Fig. 7 is a detail front view in elevation illustrating a -form of screw clamps which may be used in connection with ourdevice; Fig. 8 is a detail front view in elevation showing the arrangement of the hammers usually found in pianos having diagonal strings and the arrangement of the actuating rod for the same modified according to our invention; Fig- 9 is a detail plan View showing an arrangement pf our upper equalizing devices; Fig. 10'is a detail sectional planview through line AA of Fig. 8, showing an arrangement of the lower equal izing devices; Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing in detail our' equalizing devices as applied to a single key and respective hammers; Fig. 12 is a detail front view in elevation of a simple form of equalizing devices and Fig. 13 is a detail plan View of the same; Fig. 14: is a detail side sectional view in elevation, illustrating a preferred form of clamping and operating device; and Fig. 15 is a detail front View in elevation of the same. i

.Referring to' Figs. 1 to 6, 2O designates the front part of a' piano frame having a bottom 21. Within said frame is pivotally and shiftably mounted the keyboard frame" 22 in-such a inanner that its rear part has a pivots for the same toward its front end so.

as to produce a longer leverage for its rear end. Said keyboard frame can be mounted 111 any suitable manner so as to be pivotallyand shiftably movable; one simple way is shown in the drawings, in which said keyboard frame is provided at each end with a plate 24, 25, projecting underneath said frame, and through which we insert pivots 26, 27, fixed to part 21 in 28, 29. A construction whereby the transposing keyboard has a tendency to tilt down at'its rear end constitutes an improvement over the construction usually employed, inasmuch as the rear ends of the keys automatically clear the actuating rods, and the keyboard can be freely shifted without the necessity of the operator lifting its weight. tis obvious that by this construction the 'operation of this device is rendered easier and quicker and one of the objections to its practical success is overcome.

As it is clearl shown in the drawin s a Fig. 1, keyboard frame 22 is shorter than the inside space of the piano frame and therefore can be shifted {to the right or to the left within the same, plates 24, 25,

sliding on pivots 26, 27 30 are a plurality of keys mounted on said keyboard frame in the usual manner, the rear end of which normally corresponds with the rods 31 actuating the hammers. In pianos where rods 31 are evenly distributed, all that is necessary to do in order to effect the transposition of the keyboard is to tilt thesame so as to lower its rear part, thus freeing the end of levers 30 from the lower end of rods 31 and rendering the keyboard frame free to be shifted to the position desired, where it can be fixed in the operative position in relation to -rods3l.

In transposing keyboards for pianos and other musical instruments, the shifting and the clamping and releasing of the same are usually obtained by means of separate de vices requiring separateoperations and dif-' ferent movements in order .to accomplish the complete transposition from one position to another; This does necessarily mean a complication in the operation of thcdevice and has proved to be one of the ma'incauses of the general commercial failure with which such devices have heretofore met. lVe have sought to remedy thls inconvenlence 1n a simple and eflicient manner by adopting means for clamping and releasing the keyboard frame which can also at the same time be used for operating the shifting of the same.- To this end at the front part of bottom 21, we provide longitudinal slots 32, 33, through which are respectively inserted clamps 34, 35, provided with han dles 36, 37, and inserted through keyboard frame 22, each one being provided with a retainii'ig plate 38. As clearly illustrated in Figs; 15 and 16, the lower part of said clamp comprises a cam-acting portion 39 adapted to enter through the respective slotsprovided in bottom 21 when the clamps are turned 90 degrees to the front from the positionshown in said Figs. 15, 16. In said position cam-acting portion 39 rests against the lower surface of bottom 21, clamping keyboard frame 22 in the operating position; the action of the clamping portion 39,

is preferably exerted against plates 40, +10,

made of metal or other Kvear resisting material, provided in the lower surface of bottom 21. Onoperating handles 36, 37, so as to rotate said clamps, the same will therefore cause the forward part 39 of keyboard frame 22 to be clamped to bottom 21 or to be relieved from the same. In Figs. 2 and 5, keyboard frame 22 is shown in the clamped or operating position, and in Figs. 3 and 6,

the same is shown in'its released position.

ready for being transposed. The cam-acting clamps just described can also be etfectively substituted byscrew' clamps such as illustrated in Fig. 7. Screw, clamps 3f are inserted through the slots 32, '33, and

screwed to the'bottom of 'keyboardiframe 22, and are provided with a shoulder 38 rest ng against the lower surface of bottom 21. The same have preferably along pitch and are mounted in such a manner that, when keyboard frame 22 is clamped in posi-v tion, handles 36, will be turned sidewise and concealed from view.

By turningthe same 90 degrees tothe front, the keyboard frame will be sufficiently released so as to be free to move in either direction vand the. handles 36fafiord a very convenient means 1 'to perform saidshifting; when the desired position'fi "eaehed,said handles areturned back and finger keys, we provide a plateetl bearing board frame 22, will thus again be clampedm, its operating position. As 'aguide for the transposition on thefront part of the'piano and right above the,

sure the exact position, of the keyboard-a." frame at all points where 'the rear ends ofa.

keys 30 register. with ftheactuating rods, we provide position ng;meansfor the same prowhich'may be constituted by a plate '41 vided with notches 4;QfiX6d on the piano frame by a cog'4t3and adapted to engage said notches. Ne prefer to make said notches with inclined sides, plate 41 having therefore the shape of a rack with pointed teeth; cog 43 on the other hand is also pointed with inclined sides at its projecting end and therefore the combined action of its inclined sides with the inclined sides of 21 on which saidkeyboard frame will rest when its rear part is in its lowered position.

The great majority of pianos, as we have hereinbefore stated, are built With the hammers unevenly distributed along the entire length of the piano; and, more particularly, the same are generally arranged in groups, usually three, separated by empty spaces in which are located brackets forming part of the skeleton of the instrument. We have found that the part of said brackets below the level of the piano actions proper, can be removed without impairing the strength or the stability or the other qualities of the instrument. g

In. Fig. 8, we show in elevation the general arrangement of wippens 45, actuating rods 49 for the same, and rear ends of keys 30, shown in section. Said parts are arranged in three groups, separated by brackets or uprights 47 48. In Fig. 1, the same usual arrangement is shown in plan and it is seen that the keys mounted in the sections opposite to brackets or uprights 47, 48, have their rear parts offset so as to reach theproper actuating rods. It is obvious that in these conditions the transposition of the keyboard is impossible, inasmuch as the spacing of the keys in front of the piano does not correspond to the spacing of the piano actions in the rear. To render it possible to modify the piano having such or an analogous arrangement of the hammers, we provide simple equalizing devices which are to be used in substitution of actuating rods 46 and which we will now describe.

Referring to Fig. 8, in which parts 47, 48 are shown with their lower portion removed wippens 45 are actuated by actuating rods 49, which may be mounted on a longitudinal frame 50. The same are evenly distributed, their relative distance being equal to the width of the front part of keys 30, while wippens 45, as stated, are not evenly distributed. To equalize their distance therefore and to make these correspond to theirrelative actuating rods, we rovide each hammer rod with a suitable attachment projecting therefrom and terminatin-g directly over the corresponding actuating rod 49. Said attachment is preferably composed, as illustrated in detail in Figs, 11, l2, 13, of a stud 51, which can be screwed to the wippen by means of its part 52 and provided with a hole in which can be adjustably inserted a stem 53 of a projecting member 54, which can be retained in position by means of a set screw 55. Said projecting member 54 is therefore adjustable both angularly and radially, and by its use each wippen can be readily and easily made to correspond with the proper actuating rod 49. .,The same equalizing devices are used to render the operating ends of keys 30 8Q equally distanced so as to correspond with the actuating rods in all the positions of the keyboard. To this end, at the rear of each key 30, we screw a stud 51 on which'is mounted a projection member 54 so as to 5 terminate directly underneath the proper piano action actuating rod. The arrangement of these different parts is shown in detail in perspective view Fig; 11, while Fig.

9 is a plan view showing the relative posi- 99 tion of the wippens, actuating rods and upper projecting members 54; and Fig. 10 is a plan view showing in detail the relative po sition of the actuating rods, of the rear ends of the keys30 andof the lower projecting members 54. Y

InFig." 11 45 is the hammer rod, 49 the actuating rod for the same, and 30 is the corresponding key; 51 is the stud screwed atthe rear end of key 30, and 54 are the pro- 10c jecting members, mounted on said stud and at the lower end of rod 49.

From the foregoing it can be seenthat we provide simple and efficient means whereby the, transposition of the keyboard of a piano 1051 having unevenly distributed hammers is rendered possible, the rear ends of the keys having their points of action on the actuating rods uniformly distanced according to the spacing of said actuating rods Thelm compensation or equalization of distances between the various parts of the mechanism can also be effected by means of members projecting from the lower part of existing actuating rods,and members projecting from the rear partof the keys; this however would necessitate the employment of devices to prevent the actuating rods from rotating on their axes so as to maintain an equal distance between the ends of the memhers projecting from the same. These and other details pertaining to our invention can be changed without substantially departing from the spirit of the same; and we reserve ourselves the right of bringing to our invention all such changes and modifications which enter fairly within thescope of the appended claims.

Having thus described and ascertained the nature of our invention, what we claim curing the same in its normal position, and

-Ineans for mounting the same adapted to cause the automatic'lowering of its rear end upon the said securing means being released. 2. In a piano the combination of a longitudinally shiftable keyboard, means for securing the same in its normal position, and means for pivotally mounting the same, adapted to cause the weight of its rear part to automatically lower the-same upon the said securing means being released.

3. In a piano the combination of a lon itudinallyshiftable keyboard, and means For clamping the same in and for releasing the same from its normal position, said means being adapted to be used by. the operator -to perform the shifting of said keyboard.

4. In a piano the combination of a longitudinally shiftable keyboard, means for clamping the same in and for releasing the same from its normal position, said, means being adapted to be'used by the operator to also perform the shifting of the same, and means for mounting the same adapted to cause the automatic lowering of 1ts rear end 'upon the said clamping means being released.

5. In a piano the combination of a frame, a keyboard pivotally mounted thereon and longitudinally shiftable, positioning means for the same, and clamping means adapted to be used by the'operator to perform the shifting of the same when released from its normal position.

6. In a piano the combination of a frame, a ke board pivotally mounted thereon and longitudinally shiftable, and cam-acting clamps having means for manually operating the same, adapted to be used by the operator to shift sald keyboard and to secure the same in its normal position. i ,7. In a piano the combination of a frame, a keyboard pivo-tally mounted thereon and longitudinally shiftable, positioning 'means for the same, cam-acting clamps having means for manually operating the same adapted to be used by the operator to shift said keyboard and .to secure the same in its normal position, and means for pivotally mounting said keyboard adapted to cause the wei ht of its rear part to automatically lower it e same upon the said clamps being released.

8. In a piano the combination of 'a longitudinally shiftable keyboard having a plurality of keys unevenly distributed at their rear end, a plurality of unevenly distributed wippens, a plurality of uniformly distributed actuating means for said wippens, means for causing said actuating means to operate the corresponding wippens, and means for distributed piano action units mounted I therein, a plurality of uniformly distributed actuating means for said action units, a longitudinally shiftable keyboard, having keys operating said actuating means, and

means for causing said actuating means to operate said action units; substantiallyas set forth.

11. In a .piano the combination of a iongi-' tudinally shiftable keyboard having a plurality of keys unevenly distributed at their rear end, a' plurality of unevenly distributed wippens, uniformly distributed actuating rods for said wippens, members projecting from said wippens registering with said actuating rods, and members projecting from the rear end of said keys also registering with said actuating rods; substantially as described and for the purposes as set forth.

12. In a device ofthe character described,

in combination With a plurality of unevenly distributed wippens, and with a plurallty of evenly distributed actuating means for the same, angularly and radially adjustable equalizing means mounted on said wippens i causing the same to operate by the said actuating means.

" 13. In a device of the character described in combination with a plurality of evenly distributed wippen actuating means, and with a keyboard having the ends of the keys operating said actuating means un evenly distributed, angularly and radially adjustable equalizing means mounted on said keys causing the same to operate the said actuating means.

14. In a piano having a plurality of unevenly distributed piano action units mounted therein, a longitudinally shiftable keyboard, uniformly distributed actuating rods for said act-ion units, members adjustably mounted on the wippens of said action units and projecting therefrom, having one end registering with said actuating-rods, and members adjustably mounted on the keys of said keyboard also registering with said actuating rods; substantially as. described and for the purposes as set forth.

15. In a device of the character described, the combination a frame, a plurality of unevenly distribiited piano action units mounted therein, a longitudinally shiftable keyboard havin keys unevenly distributed at their rear en uniformly distributed actuating means for said action units, equalizing means causing the wippens of said action units to register with said actuating means, equalizing means causing the keys of said keyboard toal'so register with said actuating means, means for pivotalLy and shift-ably mounting said keyboard, and means for clampin and operating the same.

16. A device 0 the character described comprisin a frame, a plurality of unevenly distribute iano action units mounted therein, uni ormly distributed actuating rods for said action units, members projecting from the wippens of said action units registering with said actuating rods, a keyboard pivotally mounted thereon and longitudinally shiftable on said frame and having keys unevenly distributed at their rear end, members rojectin from the said keys registering wit the sai actuating rods, positioning means for said keyboard, means for clamping and operating the same, and means for pivotally mounting said keyboard adapted to cause 1ts rear end to automatically drop upon the said clamping means being released; substantially as set forth.

ANTONINO MAURO. FILIPPO MAURO. BENEDETTO MAURO.

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